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Before Facebook and Twitter were invented, the
Romans also had a place to express their useless opinions. And this
served them their Forum. Or, more precisely, a place called Rostra.
Rostra was built by order of Julius Caesar in the middle of the 1st
century. It was here, according to Shakespeare, that Mark Antony
delivered his famous speech after the murder of Caesar: "Romans,
fellow citizens and friends! Listen to how I will speak for myself."
Later, Cicero's head and arms were exposed here. The wife of
Mark Antony Fulvia pierced his tongue with a hairpin. Ironically,
Mark Antony himself was defeated in the naval battle of Antinius in
31 BC. The noses of warships or the rostra were added to the
existing podium. Hence the name Rostra or Rostral colon.
The Rostra was the primary public speaking platform in the Roman
Forum, from which orators, magistrates, and later emperors addressed the
assembled crowd (contio). Its name derives from the Latin rostrum
(plural rostra), meaning "beak" or "ram," referring to the bronze ship
prows (rams) mounted on its facade as war trophies.
Early History
(Republican Period)
The original Rostra dates back to the early
Republic, possibly as early as the 6th century BC or around 500 BC, and
was located on the south side of the Comitium (the old assembly area
near the Curia/Senate House). It was consecrated as a templum (sacred
space).
In 338 BC, after the Roman victory at the Battle of Antium
(final battle of the Latin War), Consul Gaius Maenius decorated the
platform with six bronze rams from captured Antiate ships. This gave the
structure its enduring name. The practice of affixing enemy ship prows
continued as a symbol of naval triumph.
It served as the focal point
for public speeches, political announcements, trials, and funerals.
Speakers typically faced north toward the Comitium and Senate, with the
crowd gathered in the open space.
Imperial Relocation and
Reconstruction
Julius Caesar initiated a major reorganization of the
Forum around 44 BC, planning to move the Rostra westward into the main
Forum square (abandoning its Comitium position) as part of broader urban
reforms.
Augustus completed and enhanced this project after Caesar’s
assassination, dedicating the new Imperial Rostra (Rostra Augusti)
around 42 BC or slightly later. It was larger, more monumental, and
positioned prominently at the western end of the Forum piazza.
The
structure featured a high platform (about 3–3.5 meters high) with a
curved front, marble facing, and multiple rows of bronze ship rams
(including new ones from the Battle of Actium in 31 BC).
It included
steps, a balustrade, and was adorned with statues and columns.
The
core used tufa and concrete, with travertine supports and marble
cladding.
Later Use and Significance
Famous moments include
Mark Antony’s funeral oration for Julius Caesar from the (new or
transitional) Rostra.
It remained in use through the Imperial period
for imperial proclamations, victories, and public events.
A second
Rostra was later built in front of the Temple of Divus Julius (at the
eastern end of the Forum) by Augustus.
The visible remains today are
largely an early 20th-century restoration by Giacomo Boni, showing the
tufa core, marble elements, and dowel holes for the rams.
Modern
Appearance: The Rostra appears as a raised rectangular platform with
visible structural walls and steps, facing the open Forum square, with
the Temple of Saturn visible nearby.
The Temple of Saturn is one of the oldest temples in the Roman Forum
and a symbol of Rome’s early religious and economic foundations.
Dedicated to Saturn (an ancient Italic/Sabine god of agriculture,
seed-sowing, time, and wealth, later syncretized with Greek Cronus), it
stood at the western end of the Forum, near the Clivus Capitolinus (the
road up to the Capitoline).
Origins and Early Republic
Traditionally dedicated in 497 BC (or around 498–496 BC) by Consul Titus
Larcius (or similar), shortly after the expulsion of the kings.
Construction may have begun under the last king, Tarquinius Superbus.
It replaced an earlier altar (Ara Saturni) and was one of the earliest
major temples in the Forum after those of Jupiter, Vesta, etc.
Saturn’s association with agriculture (Rome’s original source of wealth)
made the temple a natural home for the state treasury (Aerarium Populi
Romani or Aerarium Saturni), stored in vaults beneath the podium/stairs.
It also held important state documents and bronze tablets of laws.
Rebuildings and Later History
The temple suffered fires and
damage multiple times and was rebuilt/renovated several times:
A
major reconstruction occurred in 42 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus (using
spoils from campaigns), giving it a more classical Ionic appearance. The
frieze with acanthus leaves and palmettes dates to this period.
It
burned again (possibly in the fire of Carinus in 283 AD) and was
restored in the late 3rd or 4th century AD (around 360–400 AD) by the
Senate and People of Rome (Senatus Populusque Romanus incendio
consumptum restituit — inscribed on the architrave). This late pagan
revival effort produced the surviving structure.
The podium was
high, with a distinctive stepped approach (irregular steps for ritual
reasons). Inside the cella was a cult statue of Saturn (often described
as wooden, filled with oil, with a scythe, and feet bound in wool that
were ritually loosened during festivals).
Cultural and Religious
Role
Central to the Saturnalia festival (mid-December), a time of
feasting, role reversal (slaves and masters), gift-giving, and merriment
— later influencing Christmas traditions.
It symbolized abundance,
the Golden Age under Saturn, and state finances.
Modern
Appearance: Only the imposing front with eight surviving Ionic columns
(six grey granite on the facade, two red on the sides), capitals, and
the inscribed architrave remain. The columns are a mix of monoliths and
joined pieces, with recycled materials evident. The podium and steps are
partially visible.
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The Rostra was the primary public speaking platform in ancient Rome,
where orators, magistrates, and emperors addressed crowds for political
announcements, eulogies, and proclamations. Its name derives from the
rostra (Latin for "beaks" or ship rams) — bronze rams from captured
enemy warships — that decorated its facade.
History and Evolution
Republican Rostra (Rostra Vetera): Originally located at the edge of the
Comitium (the old assembly area north of the Forum), it was a curved
platform decorated with ship rams captured after the Roman victory over
the Volsci at Antium in 338 BC.
Caesarian Rostra: Julius Caesar
relocated and rebuilt it around 44 BC as part of his reorganization of
the Forum. It was moved to the western end of the open Forum square,
facing east toward the growing crowds. Caesar's version retained a
curved (hemicycle) design.
Augustan Rostra: Left unfinished at
Caesar's assassination, it was completed and significantly expanded by
Augustus around 42 BC (or shortly after). Augustus extended the platform
forward into the Forum by about 10 meters, creating a more rectangular
frontal facade while preserving some curved elements. This became the
definitive Imperial Rostra.
Architectural Features
Dimensions
(Augustan phase): Approximately 28.8 m (94 ft) long, 10 m (33 ft) broad,
and raised about 3.4 m (11 ft) above the Forum pavement.
Structure:
A raised platform supported by a concrete core, tufa (opus
quadratum) walls faced with marble, and internal travertine piers/beams
supporting the paving slabs.
The front and sides featured marble
facing with slots and dowel holes for two rows of bronze ship beaks
(rostra).
A marble balustrade (parapet) ran along the front and
sides, with a central opening for access or visibility.
Access: A
monumental curved flight of steps (hemicycle) on the west (back) side,
extending across the width, provided a grand approach. Speakers could
face either the Comitium/Senate direction (north) or the larger Forum
crowds (east).
Decorations: Beyond the ship rams, it featured
statues, columns, and honorific monuments. It was a highly symbolic
military and civic monument, emphasizing Roman naval victories and
oratorical tradition.
The visible remains today are heavily
restored (early 20th century by Giacomo Boni), showing the core, steps,
and some facing. It was a functional stage for public life, evolving
from a modest tribunal to a grand imperial platform capable of holding
multiple dignitaries.
One of the oldest temples in the Forum and in Rome, dedicated to
Saturn (god of agriculture, wealth, time, and liberation). It housed the
state treasury (aerarium Saturni) in its podium vaults, making it a key
financial and symbolic center.
History and Reconstructions
Original Temple: Traditionally dedicated in 497 BC (early Republic,
possibly initiated under the last king Tarquinius Superbus). It was one
of the earliest major Republican temples.
Later Rebuilds:
Reconstructed multiple times due to fires and decay. A major rebuild by
L. Munatius Plancus in 42 BC (Augustan period). The surviving ruins
largely date to a late 3rd/4th century AD restoration (after fires
around 283 AD), funded by the Senate.
Architectural Features
Podium: Massive and imposing due to the slope of the Capitoline Hill.
The surviving podium (from the Augustan or earlier phase) measures
roughly 40 m long × 22.5 m wide, with high retaining walls of travertine
and peperino blocks filled with concrete, originally marble-faced. It
rises significantly above the Forum level.
Plan: Traditional Roman
temple layout — rectangular, raised on a high podium, with a frontal
emphasis. Likely hexastyle prostyle (six columns across the front, with
additional columns on the sides of the pronaos/portico). Deep porch
leading to a cella (inner chamber).
Order and Materials
(Surviving 4th c. facade):
Ionic order columns (not Corinthian, as
sometimes misstated).
Eight surviving columns on the north facade:
Six front columns of grey Mons Claudianus granite (Egyptian); two side
ones of pink Aswan granite.
Shafts: Mostly composite (drums fitted
together, some braced); only a few monoliths. Heights around 11 m,
diameter ~1.43 m at base.
Capitals: Carved Thasian (Greek island)
marble, the only fully new elements in the late restoration — elegant
Ionic volutes in Late Antique style.
Entablature: White marble
architrave with inscription ("Senatus Populusque Romanus..."), Ionic
frieze with acanthus and palmettes (partly reused from earlier
structures, including possibly Trajan's Forum), and cornice.
Interior: Contained a cult statue of Saturn (wooden, with scythe, feet
bound except during Saturnalia). Vaulted chambers below for the
treasury.
The temple exemplifies Roman reuse of materials (spolia)
and continuity of traditional forms into Late Antiquity. Its elevated
position and grand columns made it visually dominant on the western
Forum.
Relationship and Context in the Forum
These structures
anchored the western Forum. The Rostra faced east across the open square
(toward the Temple of Divus Julius at the opposite end), serving as a
civic stage. The Temple of Saturn overlooked it from higher ground to
the west, symbolizing state wealth and religious tradition. Together
with the Arch of Septimius Severus (near the Rostra) and nearby
basilicas/temples, they formed a dense monumental zone.
Both
highlight key aspects of Roman architecture: pragmatic adaptation
(raised platforms/podia for visibility and flood protection), symbolic
decoration (rostra, spolia), use of concrete and imported
marbles/granites, and evolution from Republic to Empire to Late
Antiquity. Their ruins remain iconic today, evoking the political,
religious, and economic heart of ancient Rome.
The Rostra (also called the Imperial Rostra or Rostri):
This was
the elevated speakers' platform where Roman orators, politicians, and
generals addressed crowds. Famous moments include Mark Antony's speech
at Julius Caesar's funeral. The name comes from the rostra (ship prows)
captured from enemies and used to decorate the front. What you see today
is largely from the Imperial period (rebuilt and expanded under Augustus
and later emperors), with a reconstructed wall and steps. It's a
relatively low platform but offers a sense of the open public space
where assemblies happened.
The Temple of Saturn:
One of the
oldest structures in the Forum, originally dedicated around 497 BC (late
Kingdom/early Republic). It was rebuilt multiple times, with the visible
ruins (especially the eight towering columns with Ionic capitals) dating
mostly to the 4th century AD restoration after fires. The temple honored
Saturn (god of agriculture, wealth, and time) and famously housed the
Aerarium—Rome's state treasury and archives—under its podium. The
inscription on the architrave reads something like "The Senate and
People of Rome restored [the temple] consumed by fire." It's visually
striking, especially the rust-colored granite columns against the sky,
and symbolizes the link between religion and state finances. Saturnalia
festivals started here.
Layout Tip: From the Rostra (near the Arch of
Septimius Severus), turn toward the Capitoline Hill to spot the Temple
of Saturn's columns prominently on the left/west side. A good map helps
(official ones or apps like the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo app).
Practical Visiting Tips
Tickets and Access (as of 2026):
The
Roman Forum is part of the combined Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine
Hill ticket (typically €18–€24 for standard/full experience options,
with add-ons for arena floor, underground, or SUPER sites).
Tickets
are valid for 24 hours (or up to 30 days for some Forum SUPER passes)
and allow entry to the Forum on a separate day from the Colosseum if
desired.
Book in advance online — tickets sell out, especially in
peak season. On-site purchase is limited/risky. Options include audio
guides or guided tours. Free entry on the first Sunday of the month (but
expect huge crowds and no reservations).
Opening Hours:
Generally 9:00 AM to around 4:30 PM (winter) up to 7:15 PM (summer),
with last admission ~1 hour before closing. Closed Jan 1 and Dec 25.
Check the official Parco Colosseo site for exact seasonal times.
Best
Time to Visit:
Early morning (right at opening on weekdays) for
fewer crowds and better light.
Late afternoon (after 4 PM) can also
be quieter and golden-hour beautiful.
Avoid midday in summer (hot,
crowded, little shade) and weekends. Spring (Apr–May) and fall (Sep–Oct)
are ideal seasons.
Duration:
Spend 1.5–2+ hours in the Forum
overall. You can see both sites in 20–40 minutes if focused, but linger
for photos, context, and nearby highlights like the Basilica Julia, Arch
of Septimius Severus, or Temple of Castor and Pollux. Combine with
Palatine Hill for views overlooking the Forum.
Getting There:
Metro: Line B to Colosseo station (short walk).
Bus/Tram: Several
lines stop nearby.
Enter via the main Forum entrances (one near the
Arch of Titus or western side). Walking from the Colosseum is
straightforward.
On-Site Tips for the Best Experience
Wear
sturdy, comfortable shoes — uneven ancient stones, gravel, and some
slopes. No flip-flops.
Bring water, sunscreen, hat — very little
shade; it gets brutally hot in summer. There are water refill points.
Download an app or audio guide — Signage is limited. The official Parco
app or third-party guides (Rick Steves, etc.) provide excellent context.
A live guided tour brings the ruins to life (highly recommended for
first-timers).
Photography: Best angles for Temple of Saturn are from
slightly below or across the square (morning light is great). Rostra
looks impressive with the Forum expanse behind it.
Crowd Flow: Start
at the western end (near Rostra/Saturn) if entering from that side to
beat groups coming from the Colosseum direction.
Accessibility:
Mostly flat in the main Forum area but some uneven paths and steps;
strollers can be challenging.
Nearby/Complementary Sights:
After these, walk the Via Sacra, see the Curia (Senate House), Basilica
of Maxentius, Temple of Vesta, and climb to Palatine Hill for panoramic
views. The Capitoline Museums above offer more context and artifacts.
Immersive Advice
Stand on or near the Rostra and imagine
thousands gathered for fiery political speeches that shaped empires. At
the Temple of Saturn, picture the treasury vaults below and the wild
Saturnalia celebrations where social norms flipped. These spots embody
the Republic's public spirit and the Empire's grandeur.